Norway concerned about Iranian death sentence

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is deeply concerned about the news that the death sentence imposed on Canadian-Iranian web designer Saeed Malekpour may be carried out in the near future. If this is the case, we urge the Iranian authorities to stop the execution,” said State Secretary Gry Larsen.

The web designer Saeed Malekpour was sentenced to death after having been accused of spreading propaganda against the Iranian authorities. Norway has been following the case closely through its Embassy in Tehran and has been informed that the death sentence may be carried out in the near future.

“Together with international organisations and other countries, we are still seeking to stop the execution. At the same time we deeply regret that Iran once again seems to be failing to fulfil its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” said Ms Larsen.

The Government is working for the total abolition of the death penalty and has repeatedly protested against Iran’s extensive use of unacceptable means of punishment. The human rights situation in Iran continues to give cause for serious concern, not least the alarmingly large number of executions in the country.